A couple of months ago we had a team of six here from Singapore to help us for a few days. We discovered two things at that time. One is that we still have so much work to do to make the church known in the wider community. That is not helped by the fact that we have no visible church building, just our house. The other thing was not really a discovery but something we understood afresh - that taking the gospel to an area where Jesus is not known is a very real spiritual battle. Today we were joined again by some folks from Singapore (9 this time and all giving up their holiday to come and help out in Sapporo for some days). It was cold, windy and a little rainy but undaunted we headed out in four teams to pray as we walked round the area (engaging in the spiritual battle) and to deliver leaflets with a simple story and Bible message to some 700 homes (making our church known). Who knows what the outcome will be? The fruit may be unseen, at least for a time. But it was encouraging for us just to be out and about praying for people who live in the area and in some small way offering them a chance to take a step nearer to Jesus. In many ways our emphasis in these months here has been to make personal contact with people - and we now know (and are known by) lots of people. But so many others are still quite unaware that there is a church in Hiragishi. Prayer walking and delivering tracts may be small steps, but God can use all these things to draw people in this area to himself. Thank you all nine of the guys who helped us today - we appreciate you so much.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Reaching the area
A couple of months ago we had a team of six here from Singapore to help us for a few days. We discovered two things at that time. One is that we still have so much work to do to make the church known in the wider community. That is not helped by the fact that we have no visible church building, just our house. The other thing was not really a discovery but something we understood afresh - that taking the gospel to an area where Jesus is not known is a very real spiritual battle. Today we were joined again by some folks from Singapore (9 this time and all giving up their holiday to come and help out in Sapporo for some days). It was cold, windy and a little rainy but undaunted we headed out in four teams to pray as we walked round the area (engaging in the spiritual battle) and to deliver leaflets with a simple story and Bible message to some 700 homes (making our church known). Who knows what the outcome will be? The fruit may be unseen, at least for a time. But it was encouraging for us just to be out and about praying for people who live in the area and in some small way offering them a chance to take a step nearer to Jesus. In many ways our emphasis in these months here has been to make personal contact with people - and we now know (and are known by) lots of people. But so many others are still quite unaware that there is a church in Hiragishi. Prayer walking and delivering tracts may be small steps, but God can use all these things to draw people in this area to himself. Thank you all nine of the guys who helped us today - we appreciate you so much.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I enjoy following your blog. I am about to plant a church in a rural town in Oregon, 19 miles west of Portland. I pray for your and your efforts. I spent an overseas tour in Iwakuni, Japan.
ReplyDeleteOur church will be an independent bible church affliated with the Independent Fundamental Churches of America.
Lord bless you and your work!
I have read all the comments and suggestions posted by the visitors for this article are very fine,We will wait for your next article so only.Thanks! georgia church builders
ReplyDelete